Cal's worst recruiting class at UK

[RoyKent]

Gotta give this guy props for reporting Diallo was returning.

However, @KingOfBballNews says this class is Cal's worst recruiting effort since he's been at UK.

Pretty interesting/strange thoughts. I totally disagree. But, let's rate them...what do you think?

From best to worst (in my opinion) -

2014 - Towns, Lyles, Ulis, Booker
2009 - Wall, Cousins, Bledsoe, Orton, Hood
2011 - AD, MKG, Teague, Wiltjer
2013 - Randle, Andrew, Aaron, Young, Dakari, Lee, Hawkins
2017 - Diallo, Knox, Vanderbilt, Washington, Richards, Green, Shai, Baker
2010 - Knight, Lamb, Jones, Kanter, Poole
2016 - Fox, Monk, Bam, SKJ, Wenyen
2012 - Noel, WCS, Poy, Goodwin
2015 - Skal, Murray, Briscoe, Humphries, Matthews, Mulder

 

[CatColumbia]

Mmm don't agree. I would say the '15 class and that was the one year that Cal missed on some top (so-call) guys like Zimmerman, Bryant, etc. This class has has three "it" factor guys in Diallo,Knox and Vanderbilt.

 

[Cychologist]

Since they haven't played a minute of college ball let's not hype them too much.

And this year's pool of incoming freshmen was weak.

So he may be correct. I hope not.

 

[IndyCat1995]

This is his best in terms of depth

 

[RickyAllen19_rivals]

1. 2009
2. 2011
3. 2014
4. 2010
5. 2013
6. 2016
7. 2017
8. 2015
9. 2012

 

[blubo]

I'd have to wait until the season is over to decide, but on paper, this class might turn out to be one of his best.
This class has big players who can play 2-3 positions and an assist-minded pg.
Of course the team is made up of mostly freshmen so it's hard to predict in may, but is stacked with versatile players, which i love.
Like i said, on paper.

 

[Brando Mac]

Not even close to being his worst class.

May not be a superstar in the bunch (though I think Knox will be, and Diallo could be), but I love the depth, size, length, rebounding and defensive abilities, and diverse talent this group provides.

 

[USSLair]

2011. They won us the title.

 

[chroix]

Any other coach would kill for this class. Damn it feels good to be this spoiled.

 

[Rhavic]

He also said that Arizona's class is the best in the nation.

So, I'm fine with not putting stock into his evaluation of talent.

 

[jwheat]

I mean we don't really have that super star freshman but it's a pretty balanced class. Still coach cals worst class while at Kentucky would still be a great class either ranked #1 # 2

 

[WildMoon]

I would say this class's potential is higher than given credit for.

The reason starts with Vanderbilt. I truly believe he is a top tier talent, and i don't mean in the sense of 5 star recruit. I mean in the sense that he has the physical and skill (except shooting) to become NBA all-star. Vanderbilt for me would be ranked behind Porter, Bamba, and Ayton at most. I think he is a Point Forwardish, not exactly point forward but have some flavors of it.

SGA could also become pretty impressive, and his ranking was raising at the end. Would be interesting to see how much further he can become.

Richards is also legit too. Dude is 7' with 7'4" wingspan with 30 inch no step vertical. Develop his interior skill and strength...could be great sight.

 

[GonzoCat90]

It's a down group overall and we didn't pluck any of the elite 3-4 guys. There's tons of depth, but it's a bit repetitive, and with no returnees they'll be asked to shoulder more of a load than they're ready for.

I think it's better than the Murray/Skal class, and in the same group as Knight/Jones and Noel/Archie.

 

[akaukswoosh]

Gotta give this guy props for reporting Diallo was returning.

However, @KingOfBballNews says this class is Cal's worst recruiting effort since he's been at UK.

Pretty interesting/strange thoughts. I totally disagree. But, let's rate them...what do you think?

From best to worst (in my opinion) -

2014 - Towns, Lyles, Ulis, Booker
2009 - Wall, Cousins, Bledsoe, Orton, Hood
2011 - AD, MKG, Teague, Wiltjer
2013 - Randle, Andrew, Aaron, Young, Dakari, Lee, Hawkins
2017 - Diallo, Knox, Vanderbilt, Washington, Richards, Green, Shai, Baker
2010 - Knight, Lamb, Jones, Kanter, Poole
2016 - Fox, Monk, Bam, SKJ, Wenyen
2012 - Noel, WCS, Poy, Goodwin
2015 - Skal, Murray, Briscoe, Humphries, Matthews, Mulder

Be interesting to see how this group comes together but hard to see how anybody makes it Cal's worst class.

 

[stoneycat_20]

Mmm don't agree. I would say the '15 class and that was the one year that Cal missed on some top (so-call) guys like Zimmerman, Bryant, etc. This class has has three "it" factor guys in Diallo,Knox and Vanderbilt.

Not that it matters, but If you think Cal missed on Bryant you don't know what happened.Bryant almost begged for an offer.Skal was the big Cal wanted and got. TB would have committed on the spot if he had an offer

 

[Panthur]

1. 2009
2. 2011
3. 2014
4. 2010
5. 2013
6. 2016
7. 2017
8. 2015
9. 2012

Best can mean a whole lot of different things, but I fall out closest to you in terms of ballparking it.

 

[stoneycat_20]

I like the 17 class a lot..Light in the backcourt imo, but PJ,JV,Knox and Diallo will be great

1. 2009
2. 2011
3. 2010
4. 2014
5. 2017
6. 2013
7.2016
8. 2015
9. 2012

 

[thefolker]

It doesn't have to be Cal's best class. It just has to be the best this year.

 

[Cat Ballou]

I would say this class's potential is higher than given credit for.

The reason starts with Vanderbilt. I truly believe he is a top tier talent, and i don't mean in the sense of 5 star recruit. I mean in the sense that he has the physical and skill (except shooting) to become NBA all-star. Vanderbilt for me would be ranked behind Porter, Bamba, and Ayton at most. I think he is a Point Forwardish, not exactly point forward but have some flavors of it.

SGA could also become pretty impressive, and his ranking was raising at the end. Would be interesting to see how much further he can become.

Richards is also legit too. Dude is 7' with 7'4" wingspan with 30 inch no step vertical. Develop his interior skill and strength...could be great sight.

My thoughts exactly. We've got several guys who I think are severely under-appreciated, Vando, Shai, PJ, Richards, etc. Plus I think there are two other factors everyone is forgetting that could make this class special.

1. These guys are all friends, and they've played with one another before;

2. Most importantly though, Cal is doing something I don't think anyone has ever done before. He's bringing in 8 guys in one class, 7 of whom are Top 30 guys. All of these guys are going to be in the same boat basically, and I think there is going to be an instant camaraderie because of that, and incredible competition as a result. I actually think the youth and "newness" of this team may turn out to be it's strength.

 

[Ben101er]

Certainly not his best, simply because of the talent level of this crop of HS seniors, however, he can only recruit what is eligible. In terms of the 2017 recruiting classes, it is number 1. What else can he do?

 

[WildMoon]

Certainly not his best, simply because of the talent level of this crop of HS seniors, however, he can only recruit what is eligible. In terms of the 2017 recruiting classes, it is number 1. What else can he do?

Get Bamba

 

[KyFord]

Diallo, Knox, Vanderbilt, Washington, Richards, Green, Alexander

Man that's a lot of talent, easily the best recruiting class in the country and definitely nowhere near the worst class for Cal.

You never know it could turn out to be the best of all

 

[WildMoon]

Gotta give this guy props for reporting Diallo was returning.

However, @KingOfBballNews says this class is Cal's worst recruiting effort since he's been at UK.

Pretty interesting/strange thoughts. I totally disagree. But, let's rate them...what do you think?

From best to worst (in my opinion) -

2014 - Towns, Lyles, Ulis, Booker
2009 - Wall, Cousins, Bledsoe, Orton, Hood
2011 - AD, MKG, Teague, Wiltjer
2013 - Randle, Andrew, Aaron, Young, Dakari, Lee, Hawkins
2017 - Diallo, Knox, Vanderbilt, Washington, Richards, Green, Shai, Baker
2010 - Knight, Lamb, Jones, Kanter, Poole
2016 - Fox, Monk, Bam, SKJ, Wenyen
2012 - Noel, WCS, Poy, Goodwin
2015 - Skal, Murray, Briscoe, Humphries, Matthews, Mulder

2014 isn't the best class at all. Not even close actually. Think about it, put that class and take out the most of the experience. What would be their record?

Whether you like it or not, people need to think about what would happen to some of these class when you take out our experience and let the class play.

Naturally class like 2013 and 2017 should be near the top. They have a lot of contributor and skill all over the position. I think 2017 could be argued to be near the top or if not the top.

2012 is weak without a doubt because you didn't have much returning talent and it was small class coming in. That's why they went to NIT. 2014 class with KAT were to come into 2012 class situation. They would made it to tourney, but would have been elite eight at best.

 

[kevcat]

Getting Knox was huge.

He took it from a really nice class, to a great class IMO.

 

[Wildcats4ever2007]

Are we basing this off pure recruiting rankings or on court success after the season, which wouldn't be fair since this group hasn't gotten to play a single game yet? If we are looking it at from a pure recruiting standpoint there are only 3 classes that you really could make an argument that are better..

2009- top 2 players and 4 5* players overall
2011- 3 top 5 players
2013- 5 top 10 players and 6 5* players

Anyone who thinks the 2010 class is better than this incoming class is basing it off of the final season result of a final four..

I seriously doubt anyone would take a class of:

Knight
Lamb
Jones
Poole
Vargas

Over our incoming class if neither class had yet to play a game and the same goes for 2014.

However, the fact that we have 6 5* and 2 other highly rated 4* players for this incoming class and we can even have an argument that this class isn't Cal's best since he got here is just remarkable in itself and should not be taken for granted..

 

[morgousky]

lol .....

It's nowhere near the worst class and the '14 class is nowhere near the best one.

2011 is the best class we've brought in, in hindsight. Not only did they win the title, they had the top 2 NBA draft picks. Case closed.

 

[Fawrules]

Landed exactly what we needed in a high quantity of 5* and high 4* to help fill the lineup back up after the mass exodus we saw and all expected at the end of the season with three one and dones, Isaac leaving, and Dom, Willis, and Mulder graduating.

We ended up with eight players in this class if you count Diallo.
Diallo-*5
Knox-*5
Vanderbilt-*5
Washington-*5
Richards-*5
Green-*5/High 4, depending on the service
Alexander-*5/High 4 depending on the service
Baker-*4

Add that along with two returning players who I still think have good potential in Gabriel & SJK and the team's not looking bad at all for a class that was looking like a rebuilding year (Per Cal Standards) six months ago.

 

[Dablueman]

I would say this class's potential is higher than given credit for.

The reason starts with Vanderbilt. I truly believe he is a top tier talent, and i don't mean in the sense of 5 star recruit. I mean in the sense that he has the physical and skill (except shooting) to become NBA all-star. Vanderbilt for me would be ranked behind Porter, Bamba, and Ayton at most. I think he is a Point Forwardish, not exactly point forward but have some flavors of it.

SGA could also become pretty impressive, and his ranking was raising at the end. Would be interesting to see how much further he can become.

Richards is also legit too. Dude is 7' with 7'4" wingspan with 30 inch no step vertical. Develop his interior skill and strength...could be great sight.

Yep. Vanderbilt was ranked as high as one in the class because of his point forward skills. Funny the media has slept on Vanderbilt but NBA draft net and ESPN have Vanderbilt going lottery. His shot at the all star practices was much improved and he showed pg handle and passing. Funny the same skills great passer and ball handler mediocre shooter made the kid at lsu a sure fire number one pick and Vanderbilt does the same thing may shoot it better and is a better defender. He gets hurt but plays hurt and they drop him 20 spots. He plays hurt hellin today's world that should move him up Guiles gets the oh he is hurt on his ranking all last year cause he couldn't play but Vanderbilt drops 20 spots. Then the hoops summit happened and Vanderbilt was the best player on the floor even over Porter.

 

[Dablueman]

On NBADraft.net they have Richards Vanderbilt Knox and Diallo all going top 15 that's lottery. Saw another with Gabriel being first round. That is 5 first round draft choices so it is far from his worst class. Green is a 5stsr in a few rankings Alexander is on scout. So that is 6 five stars and u can make an argument for 7 five stars at their worst possible rankings we have 7 guys all in the top 33 players 6 guys in the top 20 4 guys top 15.

 

[morgousky]

On NBADraft.net they have Richards Vanderbilt Knox and Diallo all going top 15 that's lottery. Saw another with Gabriel being first round. That is 5 first round draft choices so it is far from his worst class. Green is a 5stsr in a few rankings Alexander is on scout. So that is 6 five stars and u can make an argument for 7 five stars at their worst possible rankings we have 7 guys all in the top 33 players 6 guys in the top 20 4 guys top 15.

Draftnet is crap.

 

[weused2luvhim2]

12 is obviously the worst.

 

[Cat Ballou]

Cal's worst class (and it ain't this one) would still be the best class ever most teams.

Also, UNC just rode about half as many middling Top 10-30 guys (and zero Top 4 talent) guys to almost two consecutive championships.

4-5 guys in this class are going to be around for 2-3 years. That is great news, or should be great news for those of you who complain about our signing too many OADs.

 

[hotelblue]

how the individual players pan out and how the recruits are rated going into college are two different comparisons right? you can't beat the '13 class in terms of rating, and you can't beat the '14 class in terms of talent. the '09 class is obviously there too. the '17 class is just ridiculously deep. in terms of the numbers alone it has to be considered on of the best. i think the talent will more than show as well.

 

[coolioo1]

Wall and Cousins: INSANE too get two guys like this and then have a surprise like Bledsoe:
Davis and MKG: Once again, 1 and 2 draft picks; enough said.

I don't think any other class panned out as well as these two. Not even close. Last year comes the closest with two game changing studs in Fox and Monk. The key is how they preformed. Not the ranking; but if we go with ranking the Twins Class was epic and maybe never to be repeated. But the Twins were over ranked big time that year, so a little misleading but proves the point.

 

[UKcatXXXL]

Trying to rank which one is best is nearly impossible unless you specify what "best" actually means.

To me, the best class is how the class itself performs without the help from other class members. This is why the Fab Five is the gold standard.

 

[coolioo1]

Trying to rank which one is best is nearly impossible unless you specify what "best" actually means.
both
To me, the best class is how the class itself performs without the help from other class members. This is why the Fab Five is the gold standard.

I agree that you have to judge the results, thus, you could argue that the Harrson Twins class was equal to the Fab Five....both were Runner UPs and both made the FF the following year...hmmmmmmmmmm

 

[turkeywildturkey]

Gotta give this guy props for reporting Diallo was returning.

However, @KingOfBballNews says this class is Cal's worst recruiting effort since he's been at UK.

Pretty interesting/strange thoughts. I totally disagree. But, let's rate them...what do you think?

From best to worst (in my opinion) -

2014 - Towns, Lyles, Ulis, Booker
2009 - Wall, Cousins, Bledsoe, Orton, Hood
2011 - AD, MKG, Teague, Wiltjer
2013 - Randle, Andrew, Aaron, Young, Dakari, Lee, Hawkins
2017 - Diallo, Knox, Vanderbilt, Washington, Richards, Green, Shai, Baker
2010 - Knight, Lamb, Jones, Kanter, Poole
2016 - Fox, Monk, Bam, SKJ, Wenyen
2012 - Noel, WCS, Poy, Goodwin
2015 - Skal, Murray, Briscoe, Humphries, Matthews, Mulder

This guy must be a total idiot.

 

[Bluegrassking]

Cal's worst class (and it ain't this one) would still be the best class ever most teams.

Also, UNC just rode about half as many middling Top 10-30 guys (and zero Top 4 talent) guys to almost two consecutive championships.

4-5 guys in this class are going to be around for 2-3 years. That is great news, or should be great news for those of you who complain about our signing too many OADs.

I doubt it will turn out that way even though it projects that way now. I almost am inclined to say no one on scholarship this coming year will be here in 3 not even Baker but maybe 2 tops. I just think they all will be taken over the next two drafts or transfer out.

 

[wildcat1515]

Yeah Cal really does suck at recruiting. This writer just wants people to read his crappy FAKE NEWS!

 

[K_TIME]

No class...including this one is really close to the bottom as the Skal, Briscoe, Murray (the only really good college player), Matthews, Mulder, Humphries and Wynard in terms of productive kids.